A new cycle and pedestrian bridge linking two east London boroughs has been approved

A new cycle and pedestrian bridge which will connect two east London boroughs has been given the green light by councillors. Last week (May 14), Tower Hamlets Council’s strategic development committee unanimously approved plans for a new bridge over the River Lea.

The 63m bridge will be built at Ailsa Wharf and both pedestrians and cyclists will be able to travel between Tower Hamlets and neighboring Newham. There will be a permanent channel 33m wide and 3m high so that smaller boats can still pass underneath and, on occasions when the bridge needs to be raised, the Tower Hamlets side will be raised using hydraulic jacks.

According to a report by Tower Hamlets Council, a separate planning application has been submitted and is currently being assessed by Newham Council. During last week’s meeting with Tower Hamlets’ strategic development committee, a planning officer said: “This infrastructure will serve the people of the borough but will also allow for better movement between boroughs, particularly for pedestrians and cyclists.

READ MORE: “Ignored” tenants don’t know who the “good neighbors” are amid subletting issues and missing plots

“At the moment it’s in a proportion of the borough (Tower Hamlets) which is somewhat isolated and to a certain extent it makes places a bit more car-dependent.” He said the bridge would play a vital role in opening up this part of the borough, particularly for residents living in “emerging residential locations”.

Labor councilor Mufeedah Bustin had some concerns about anti-social behavior (ASB) after looking at one of the CGI images showing a man sitting on a bridge. Cllr Bustin said: “At first I was just wondering what he was looking at but then I started to think is it intended to be used as a chair? Will it be a problem at night with ASB?

“Especially with women crossing that bridge late at night, is there any anti-ASB infrastructure that’s going to be put in place to prevent people from hanging around and sitting on that bridge?” The planning officer said the Met Police are currently being consulted on lighting and introducing other safety features as part of a police initiative called Secured by Design.

He later said: “I think it’s also very important to consider that the bridge is not designed as simply to get from A to B, but as a way for the residents of the neighborhood to enjoy the waterways of the Lea river. I think it’s a real asset to the neighborhood, which is maybe a little underutilized at the moment.”

When it came to final comments, Green councilor Nathalie Bienfait praised the plans and design of the bridge. Cllr Bienfait said: “I really like this application and I think if we were to approve it it would be a significant boom for the borough. I especially like the design, I think the orange color is similar to the bridges crossing nowadays. The same river around the Olympic Park and that area in particular needs bridges between the two neighborhoods, so I feel positive about that.”

Upon voting, the request was unanimously approved by the commission. The committee recommended two additional conditions regarding the drainage strategy and a Secured by Design review of the relaxation area be carried out and added to the application.

Don’t miss the biggest news from East London. Sign up to our MyEastLondon newsletter HERE for the latest daily news and more.